Binding post for electrical instruments



1931- G. v. HETHERINGTON 1,820,701

BINDING POST FOR ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 6. 1929 f Y'- 3 9 E'41 WW 7 8 INVENTOR A'TTQRNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATES GEORGE v. HETHERQINGTON, or NEWARK, NEW ,TEBsEYjAss'IGNoR 'ro WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 013 PENNSYLVANIA BINDING POST FOR ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed February 6, 1929. Serial 'No.'337,812.:f

My invention relates to binding-posts for electrical instruments and has for an object to provide a readily removable binding-post which may be secured quickly and firmly in proper position to receive the end of a conductor from any general direction.

Another objectof my invention is to provide inexpensive and simple means for tightly securing a binding post to the wall of a casing without injuring the surfaceof the casing.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means in a binding post for the reception of the end of a conductor from a number of different angles without the necessity of bending the conductor.

My invention may be more readily understood if the following description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my binding post, and

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of 2 vthe binding post shown in Fig. 1. 7

My removable terminal binding post comprises a thumbscrew 2 having a threaded stud 3 rigidly secured thereto which fits I a tapped opening 4 in a threaded terminal 5.

6 to prevent the marring of the finish on the surface of the wall 8 when the hexagonal head is turned to screw the terminal 5 into the opening in the threaded strap 10.

The head 6 of the bushing 5 may be of any polygonal shape, but it is preferably of hexagonal shape so that it is readily removable with a thin standard open end wrench. When the bushing 5 is secured to the case, it is maintained in position and remains immovable in spite of the finger twisting torque imparted to the thumbscrew 2. The terminal is quickly removable with a Wrench, but is substantially unaffected by manipulation of the thumb screw 2.

The outer abutting surface ofthei hex;

agonal head 6 isprovided with three angularlv related slots or grooves 11 of substany tially V -shaped so that irrespective of .the

axial position of the headfhafter being secured in position, one or moreof the grooves 11 always extends toward the front of the instrument for the reception of the endof,

a conductor. c a V I 1 The advantage of my novel bindingspost is that it is readily removable, as when repairs are to bemade to theinstrument, and,

in addition, provides a. simplified design which is inexpensivein assembly and facili tates testing'of the instrument and the; ready connection of circuit conductors thereto.

Various modifications may be made in my invention Without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire there-.

fore that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are disclosed by the prior art and set forthin the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Ina binding post, the combination with two cooperating members for clamping a conductor between them, one of said'members comprising a terminal having a polygonal abutment thereon, of a plurality of grooves of V-shape in the clamping surface of said abutment-each extending parallel to one of thev sides of said abutment for the reception of saidconductor.

2. In combination, the wall of an instrument casing having a hole therein, a tapped threaded'terminal for insertion through said hole havinga polygonal head on one end thereof, a washer separating one surface of said head from the outer surface of said wall, a tapped conducting lead of the instrument within said casing for cooperation with said terminal to clamp the same in position in said hole, and a thumbscrew cooperating with the tapped portion of said terminal for clamping a conductor to the surface of said head, the clamping surface of said head having a plurality of non-parallel straight grooves therein of substantially V-sliape in cross section for the selective reception of said conductor.

3. The combination with an instrument casing having an opening therethrough and a finished outer surface of a terminal de-' vice including a flat metal strap constituting a conducting lead for the instrumenthaving an internally screw-threaded portion regis tering with said opening and a portion ex tending from said threaded portion along an inner surface of the casing, a metal bushing in the casing opening having an exteriorly-screw threaded inner end portion in the internally-threaded strap opening, an

internally-screw threaded portion accessible from the outer end thereof and a laterallyextended polygonal outer head having transversely-extending angularly-related conductor-receiving V-groove portions in the trans verse outer head surface each parallel to one of the sides thereof, means, operative when said strap and said bushing are screwed toward each other to clamp the casing therebetween, to prevent injury to said finished surface ineludin a washer between the casing and said hea and a thumb screw having an exteriorly screw-threaded shank for cooperation with said internally screwthreaded portion and a smooth clamping surface era-operating with said grooved outer head surface for clamping a conductor in one of said grooves.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this first day of February, 1929.

GEORGE V. HETHERINGTON. 

